Vehicle body structure

ABSTRACT

A vehicle body structure includes a pillar, a roof rail, a pillar trim panel mounted to the pillar, a pillar airbag and a curtain airbag. The pillar airbag is mounted to the pillar in a stowed orientation between the pillar trim panel and the pillar. The pillar airbag is arranged to be deployed in a first direction extending away from the pillar in a deployed orientation. The curtain airbag is mounted to the roof rail in a stowed orientation along the roof rail, and is arranged to be deployed in a downward direction extending away from the roof rail to a deployed orientation. The pillar airbag is positioned outboard of the curtain airbag with the curtain airbag overlaying a portion of the pillar airbag with respect to a second direction transverse to the first direction while the pillar airbag and the curtain airbag are in their deployed orientations, respectively.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This U.S. application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.13/900,883, filed May 23, 2013, and claims priority thereto. The entirecontents of U.S. application Ser. No. 13/900,883 are hereby incorporatedherein by reference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to vehicle body structure. Morespecifically, the present invention relates to a vehicle body structurethat includes a pillar airbag and a curtain airbag arranged such that indeployed orientations, the pillar airbag is positioned outboard of thecurtain airbag and the curtain airbag overlays a portion of the pillarairbag.

2. Background Information

In recent years vehicles have been equipped with airbags. Originally,airbags were installed at the front of the passenger compartment, forexample, within a portion of the steering wheel assembly and/orcompartments concealed within the instrument panel. Many vehicles arenow also equipped with airbag curtains that each cover at least aportion of an interior surface of a corresponding vehicle window whendeployed.

SUMMARY

In accordance with one aspect of the disclosure, a vehicle bodystructure is provided with a curtain airbag and a pillar airbag whereone of the curtain airbag and the pillar airbag at least partiallyoverlaps or overlays the other such that a corresponding vehicle windowis completely covered when the curtain airbag and the pillar airbag arein their respective deployed orientations.

In view of the state of the known technology, one aspect of thedisclosure is to provide a vehicle body structure that includes apillar, a roof rail located above the pillar, a pillar trim panelmounted to the pillar, a pillar airbag and a curtain airbag. The pillarairbag is mounted to the pillar in a stowed orientation between thepillar trim panel and the pillar. The pillar airbag is arranged to bedeployed in a first direction extending away from the pillar in adeployed orientation. The curtain airbag is mounted to the roof rail ina stowed orientation along the roof rail, and is arranged to be deployedin a downward direction extending away from the roof rail to a deployedorientation. The pillar airbag is also arranged to be positionedoutboard of the curtain airbag with the curtain airbag overlaying aportion of the pillar airbag with respect to a second directiontransverse to the first direction while the pillar airbag and thecurtain airbag are in their deployed orientations, respectively.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring now to the attached drawings which form a part of thisoriginal disclosure:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a vehicle that includes a sliding doorwith a door window in accordance with one embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a front portion of a passengercompartment of the vehicle, showing the sliding door, B-pillars,C-pillars, roof rails, windows and a plurality of airbag arrangements inaccordance with the one embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an exterior side of an upper end of theB-pillar and the roof rail with the sliding door in an open orientationexposing a slide rail that supports the sliding door for slidingmovement in accordance with the one embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an interior side of the upper end of theB-pillar and the roof rail with the sliding door in a partially openorientation showing a slide rail housing that at least partiallyconceals the slide rail, the slide rail housing having a slot that isopen to a guide slot within the slide rail housing in accordance withthe one embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a view of a portion of an interior side of the sliding door ina closed orientation showing the B-pillar, the roof rail adjacent to thesliding door, and one of the airbag arrangements including a pillarairbag installed to the B-pillar and a curtain airbag installed to theroof rail, with the pillar airbag and the curtain airbag concealed inrespective non-deployed orientations in accordance with the oneembodiment;

FIG. 6 is another is a view of the portion of an interior side of thesliding door similar to FIG. 5, showing the pillar airbag and thecurtain airbag in respective deployed orientations completely coveringthe door window in accordance with the one embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the B-pillar and a portion of theslide rail housing (in phantom) taken along the line 7-7 in FIG. 5 withthe pillar airbag and the curtain airbag in the non-deployedorientation, showing the guide slot within the slide rail housing andsliding members within the guide slot that support a portion of thepillar airbag in accordance with the one embodiment;

FIG. 8 is another cross-sectional view of the B-pillar and the portionof the slide rail housing (in phantom) taken along the line 8-8 in FIG.6 with the pillar airbag and the curtain airbag in their respectivedeployed orientations, with the sliding members within the guide slotsupporting the portion of the pillar airbag during deployment inaccordance with the one embodiment;

FIG. 9 is an elevational view of a portion of an interior side of thevehicle showing of the sliding door in a closed orientation and alsoshowing the B-pillar, the roof rail, and the slide rail housing, with aportion of the slide rail housing in cross-section revealing slidingmembers within the guide slot, the sliding members supporting the pillarairbag in the non-deployed orientation in accordance with the oneembodiment;

FIG. 10 is another elevational view of the portion of the interior sideof the vehicle similar to FIG. 9, showing the portion of the slide railhousing in cross-section revealing the sliding members within guideslot, the sliding members supporting the pillar airbag in the deployedorientation, with the curtain airbag removed for greater clarity inaccordance with the one embodiment;

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the slide rail housingtaken along the line 11-11 in FIG. 10, showing the guide slot and one ofthe sliding members in accordance with the one embodiment;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a portion of the passenger compartmentshowing fixed windows, each window being provided with an airbagarrangement shown in a non-deployed orientation in accordance with theone embodiment; and

FIG. 13 is another perspective view of the portion of the passengercompartment depicted in FIG. 12, showing the pillar airbags and curtainairbags of the airbag arrangements shown in a deployed orientationcovering respective windows in accordance with the one embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Selected embodiments will now be explained with reference to thedrawings. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art from thisdisclosure that the following descriptions of the embodiments areprovided for illustration only and not for the purpose of limiting theinvention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Referring initially to FIGS. 1 and 2, a vehicle 10 that includes avehicle body structure 12 having a plurality of airbag arrangements, 14,114 (FIGS. 2, 12 and 13) and 214 (FIGS. 12 and 13 only) is illustratedin accordance with a first embodiment. The vehicle 10 depicted in thedrawings is a commercial van or a passenger van that includes a slidingdoor 16 with a window 18. However, as is made clear from the descriptionbelow and the drawings, the vehicle 10 can be any vehicle that includesa window and is not limited to a commercial van, a passenger vanstructure or a vehicle with a sliding door, but rather can also beemployed in vehicles that include windows without a sliding door.

A brief description of the vehicle body structure 12 is now providedwith specific reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. The vehicle body structure 12basically includes, among other elements, a body side structure 20including a floor 22, B-pillars 24, C-pillars 26, D-pillars 28 (only oneD-pillar 28 is shown FIGS. 10 and 11), roof rails 30, a slide rail 32(FIGS. 1 and 5 only), a slide rail housing 34, a trim panel 36, aheadliner H, the airbag arrangement 14, the airbag arrangement 114 andthe airbag arrangement 214 (FIGS. 12 and 13 only). The body sidestructure 20 includes an outer side surface 21 a and an inner sidesurface 21 b.

The floor 22 is configured to support a plurality of seats, such asfront seats 40, second row seats 42, third row seats 44 (FIG. 12 only)and rear seats 46 (FIG. 12 only). Since seats within a vehicle areconventional elements, further description of the seats 40, 42, 44 and46 is omitted for the sake of brevity. The B-pillar 24, the C-pillar 26,a portion of the floor 22 and the roof rail 30 on the passenger's sideof the vehicle 10 define a door opening 48, such that the sliding door16 is movable between an open orientation (FIG. 1) exposing the dooropening 48 and a closed orientation (FIG. 2) covering the door opening48. Further, the roof rail 30 is located above both the B-pillar 24 andthe C-pillar 26, extending between upper ends thereof, respectively.Specifically, the roof rail 30 includes a first section 30 a, a secondsection 30 b and a third section 30 c. The first section 30 a is locatedabove the B-pillar 24. The second section 30 b and the third section 30c are located above the window 18, as is described in greater detailbelow. The B-pillar 24, the C-pillar 26 and the roof rail 30 areconventional elements. Therefore, further description is omitted for thesake of brevity.

As shown in FIG. 3, the slide rail 32 includes a straight track portion50 that extends in a vehicle longitudinal direction V and a curvedportion 52 located adjacent the B-pillar 24. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3,the slide rail 32 is positioned above an upper area of the door opening48 and is only visible when viewing the outer side surface 21 a of thebody side structure 20 with the sliding door 16 in the open orientation.The slide rail 32 is disposed along the roof rail 30, as is describedfurther below. The sliding door 16 is supported for sliding movement onthe body side structure 20 by a plurality of slide rails, including theslide rail 32. Since sliding doors, such as the sliding door 16 andslide rail 32 are conventional elements, further description is omittedfor the sake of brevity.

The slide rail 32 is disposed within the slide rail housing 34 and isinstalled to the body side structure 20 by, for example, removablefasteners, or welding. As viewed from within the vehicle 10 in FIGS. 2and 4-6, the slide rail housing 34 is a partially enclosed structurethat protrudes into an upper area of the passenger compartment of thevehicle 10 above the door opening 48. The slide rail housing 34 includesa straight section 60 and a curved section 62. More specifically, thecurved section 62 is referred to herein below as an inboard protrudingstructure that protrudes into the passenger compartment of the vehicle10. The straight section 60 of the slide rail housing 34 can extend orprotrude into the passenger compartment 10, but is less prominent thanthe curved section 62 and is not considered to be an inboard protrudingstructure. The curved section 62 extends along the second section 30 bof the roof rail 30 and the straight section 60 of the slide railhousing 34 extends along the third section 30 c of the roof rail 30. Thestraight track portion 50 of the slide rail 32 extends in the vehiclelongitudinal direction V within the straight section 60 of the sliderail housing 34. As shown in FIG. 3, the curved portion 52 of the sliderail 32 extends within the curved section 62 of the slide rail housing34. As is also shown in FIG. 3, the slide rail housing 34 includes aslot 64 that extends in the vehicle longitudinal direction V and is opento the exterior of the vehicle 10 with the door 16 in the openorientation exposing the slide rail 32.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 7-10, within the interior of the vehicle 10, theslide rail housing 34 also includes a slot 66 and a guide slot 68. Theslot 66 and guide slot 68 can be defined by the slide rail housing 34 oralternatively can be defined between either a portion of the slide railhousing 34 or a slide rail housing trim panel that covers the slide railhousing 34. The slot 66 is basically an elongated opening that extendsin the vehicle longitudinal direction and is located on a passengercompartment side of the slide rail housing 34 to house the guide slot68. As shown in FIG. 11, the guide slot 68 is basically a C-channel withthe slot 66 being open downward and serving as an elongated opening intothe guide slot 68. A pair of sliding members 69 are concealed within theguide slot 68. The sliding members 69 are preferably made of a materialhaving an extremely low friction co-efficient, such that the slidingmembers 69 can slide freely and with little friction along the guideslot 68 upon deployment of the pillar airbag 84. The guide slot 68 atleast partially conceals a sliding member 69 that slide within and alongthe guide slot 68 in the vehicle longitudinal direction V. Although twoof the sliding members 69 are shown in the drawings, any of a variety ofnumbers of sliding members 69 can be employed. For example, only one ofthe sliding members 69 is required, but a plurality (more than three)can be employed.

The trim panel 36 (a pillar trim panel) can be mounted to the B-pillar24 with fasteners and/or snap-fitting members (not shown). As shown inFIGS. 7 and 8, the trim panel 36 includes an interior facing surface 70,a pillar facing surface 72, a body portion 74 and a movable portion 76.The interior facing surface 72 has a vertical ditch line 78 formed alonga vertical length of the trim panel 36. The vertical ditch line 78 is aregion of reduced thickness defining a hinge between the body portion 74and the movable portion 76. The vertical ditch line 78 can beaesthetically incorporated into the styling of the interior facingsurface 70 of the trim panel 36. Alternatively, the vertical ditch linecan be located along the pillar facing surface 72 of the trim panel 36to be concealed.

The airbag arrangement 14 is now described with reference to FIGS. 5-9.The airbag arrangement 14 includes a pillar airbag 84 and a curtainairbag 86. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 7, the pillar airbag 84 is mounted tothe B-pillar 24 in a stowed orientation (non-deployed orientation)between the trim panel 36 and the B-pillar 24, and arranged to bedeployed in a vehicle longitudinal direction V extending rearward awayfrom the B-pillar 24 in a deployed orientation, as shown in FIGS. 6, 8and 10.

As shown in FIGS. 6, 8 and 10, in the deployed orientation the pillarairbag 84 covers a first portion W₁ of the window 18. In FIG. 9, thecurtain airbag 86 is completely removed in order to more clearly showthe deployment of the pillar airbag 84. However, it should be understoodfrom the drawings and the description herein that in the depictedembodiment the pillar airbag 84 is deployed together (simultaneously, orwith some delay) with the curtain airbag 86.

As shown in FIGS. 6-10, the pillar airbag 84 includes a plurality oftethers 84 a that are fixed to an upper edge of the pillar airbag 84.The tethers 84 a can be made of a textile material and/or metallic wirethat slidably support the pillar airbag 84 to the sliding members 69within the guide slot 68. The tethers 84 a are fixed at one end to anupper edge of the pillar airbag 84 and the other end to lower ends ofthe sliding members 69. For example, an upper end of each of the tethers84 a can be embedded within the material that forms a respective one ofthe sliding members 69, as shown in FIG. 11. Alternatively, the slidingmember 69 can be formed as rings that slide along a rod positionedwithin the guide slot 68. Hence, in the stowed orientation (FIGS. 5 and7), the tethers 84 a are concealed behind the trim panel 36 but extendthrough a forward section of the slot 66 into the guide slot 68,connecting to the sliding members 69.

The guide slot 68 extends along an area above the first portion W₁ ofthe window 18, such that the sliding members 69 can slide with thetethers 84 a along the guide slot 68 upon deployment of the pillarairbag 84. Thus, the upper end of the pillar airbag 84 is guided bymovement of the sliding member 69 or sliding members 69 duringdeployment to move in a specific direction relative to the window 18.More specifically, the sliding members 69 can move along the curvedportion section 62 of the slide rail housing 34 and the curved portion52 of the slide rail 32 since they are installed within the linear guideslot 68.

When the pillar airbag 84 (and the curtain airbag 86) is deployed, themovable portion 76 of the trim panel 36 moves relative to the bodyportion 74 in response to the pillar airbag 84 moving from the stowedorientation to the deployed orientation, as shown in FIGS. 6, 8 and 10.Specifically, the movable portion 76 is positioned on a rearward side ofthe B-pillar 24. As the pillar airbag 84 deploys, the pillar airbag 84moves in the vehicle rearward direction V pushing against the movableportion 76 of the trim panel 36. Hence, the vertical ditch line 78serves as a hinge allowing the movable portion 76 to pivot as the pillarairbag 84 extends in the vehicle rearward direction V toward thedeployed orientation. As the pillar airbag 84 is deployed, the slidingmembers 69 help to guide the expansion of the pillar airbag 84 such thatthe pillar airbag 84 remains outboard relative to the curtain airbag 86.

A description of the curtain airbag 86 is now provided with reference toFIGS. 5-8. As indicated in FIG. 5, the curtain airbag 86 is mounted tothe roof rail 30 and/or the slide rail housing 34 in a stowedorientation. The curtain airbag 86 is concealed by, for example, aheadliner or a trim panel, in the stowed orientation along the roof rail30 and the straight section 60 of the slide rail housing 34. The curtainairbag 86 is arranged to be deployed in a downward direction extendingaway from the roof rail 30 and the side rail housing 34 to a deployedorientation, as shown in FIG. 6. When both the pillar airbag 84 and thecurtain airbag 86 are in their respective deployed positions as shown inFIGS. 6 and 8, the pillar airbag 84 is arranged outboard of the curtainairbag 86 with the curtain airbag overlaying a portion of the pillarairbag 86 with respect to a vehicle lateral direction.

The curtain airbag 86 has a forward edge 86 a that is spaced apart fromthe B-pillar 24 in the vehicle longitudinal direction V by a firstdistance Di while in the deployed orientation, as shown in FIGS. 6 and8. Further, the pillar airbag 84 extends rearward from the B-pillar 24by a second distance D₂ that is greater than the first distance D₁.Hence, although the curtain airbag 86 is located rearward of the pillarairbag 84, the curtain airbag 86 overlaps or overlays a portion of thepillar airbag 84 with respect to a vehicle lateral direction transverseto the vehicle longitudinal direction V while the pillar airbag 84 andthe curtain airbag 86 are in their deployed orientations, respectively.

As is shown in FIGS. 6 and 10, the pillar airbag 84 covers the firstportion W₁ of the window 18. As shown in FIG. 10, the curtain airbag 86covers a second portion W₂ of the window 18. Due to the presence of thecurved portion 52 of the slide rail 32, it is difficult to package thecurtain airbag 86, if the curtain airbag 86 were to extend all the wayto the B-pillar 24. However, by utilizing the pillar airbag 84 with thecurtain airbag 86, the pillar airbag 84 and the curtain airbag 86 of theairbag arrangement 14 completely covers the window 18 while in theirrespective deployed orientations.

A description of the airbag arrangement 114 is now provided withspecific reference to FIGS. 12 and 13. As indicated in FIG. 12, instowed orientations, the airbag arrangement 114 includes a pillar airbag84′, a curtain airbag 186 and a second pillar airbag 184. The pillarairbag 84′ is installed to the B-pillar 24 on the driver's side of thevehicle 10. The curtain airbag 186 is installed along the roof rail 30in a manner similar to that of the curtain airbag 86, except that thecurtain airbag 186 is not located adjacent to or within a slide railhousing, and the curtain airbag 186 extends above both a window 18′ anda window 118. Specifically, the curtain airbag 186 is installed toeither the roof rail 30 or a portion of the roof side structure (notshown) of the vehicle 10. There is no sliding door on the driver's sideof the vehicle 10, as depicted in FIGS. 12 and 13. Therefore, there isno slide rail housing present. Hence, a slot, a cavity and guide railsimilar to the slot 66, the guide slot 68, sliding members 69 areprovided along the roof rail 30 and a corresponding roof rail trim panelor headliner on the driver's side of the vehicle 10.

The pillar airbag 184 is installed to a forward portion of the D-pillar28 in a manner similar to the installation of the pillar airbag 84 tothe B-pillar 24.

The deployment of the pillar airbag 84′, the curtain airbag 186 and thepillar airbag 184 of the airbag arrangement 14′ is generally the same asdescribed above with respect to the airbag arrangement 14. In thedeployed orientation shown in FIG. 11, the pillar airbag 84′ covers afirst portion W₁ of the window 18′ and the curtain airbag 186 covers asecond portion W₂ of the window 18′. The curtain airbag 186 also coversa forward portion of the window 118 and the pillar airbag 184 covers arearward portion of the window 118. Further the curtain airbag 186overlaps or overlays a rearward portion of the pillar airbag 84′ and aforward portion of the pillar airbag 184, with the pillar airbag 84′ andthe pillar airbag 184 both being located outboard of the curtain airbag186.

As is also shown in FIG. 12, in stowed orientations, the airbagarrangement 214 includes a pillar airbag 284 and a curtain airbag 286.The pillar airbag 284 is installed to a rearward inboard facing side ofthe D-pillar 28. The curtain airbag 286 is installed along the roof rail30 or a portion of the roof side structure (not shown) of the vehicle 10above rear doors that include rear glass windows 218. A slot, a cavityand guide rail similar to the slot 66, the guide slot 68, slidingmembers 69 are provided along the roof rail and a corresponding roofrail trim panel or the headliner at the rear of the vehicle 10 adjacentto the D-pillar 28.

The deployment of the pillar airbag 284 and the curtain airbag 286 ofthe airbag arrangement 214 is generally the same as described above withrespect to the airbag arrangements 14 and 114 except that when in thedeployed orientation, the pillar airbag 284 extends from the D-pillar 28in a vehicle lateral direction or inboard direction. In the deployedorientation shown in FIG. 13, the pillar airbag 284 covers a driver'sside portion W₁ of the window 118 and the curtain airbag 286 covers acentral portion of the windows 218. Further the curtain airbag 286overlaps or overlays a portion of the pillar airbag 284 in the vehiclelongitudinal direction V transverse to the vehicle lateral direction,with the pillar airbag 284 being located rearward or outboard of thecurtain airbag 186.

Although not shown, the D-pillar on the passenger's side of the vehicle10 can include another pillar airbag, similar to the pillar airbag 284.

Each of the airbag arrangements 14, 114 and 214 includes its own set ofairbag deploying mechanisms or deploying devices. More specifically,each of the pillar airbags 84, 84′, 184 and 284, and the curtain airbags86, 186 and 286 includes its own dedicated deploying mechanism (notshown) that is in turn connected to a triggering mechanism or controller(not shown) provided within the vehicle 10. The triggering mechanism orcontroller and the deploying mechanisms associated with each of thepillar airbags 84, 84′, 184 and 284 and the curtain airbags 86, 186 and286 are conventional components. Since the deploying mechanisms and thetriggering mechanism are conventional components, further description isomitted for the sake of brevity.

The various elements and features of the vehicle 10 (other than theairbag arrangements described herein) are conventional components thatare well known in the art. Since the other elements and features of thevehicle 10 are well known in the art, these structures will not bediscussed or illustrated in detail herein. Rather, it will be apparentto those skilled in the art from this disclosure that the components canbe any type of structure and/or programming that can be used to carryout the present invention.

GENERAL INTERPRETATION OF TERMS

In understanding the scope of the present invention, the term“comprising” and its derivatives, as used herein, are intended to beopen ended terms that specify the presence of the stated features,elements, components, groups, integers, and/or steps, but do not excludethe presence of other unstated features, elements, components, groups,integers and/or steps. The foregoing also applies to words havingsimilar meanings such as the terms, “including”, “having” and theirderivatives. Also, the terms “part,” “section,” “portion,” “member” or“element” when used in the singular can have the dual meaning of asingle part or a plurality of parts. Also as used herein to describe theabove embodiment, the following directional terms “forward”, “rearward”,“above”, “downward”, “vertical”, “horizontal”, “below” and “transverse”as well as any other similar directional terms refer to those directionsof a vehicle equipped with the airbag arrangements. Accordingly, theseterms, as utilized to describe the present invention should beinterpreted relative to a vehicle equipped with the airbag arrangements.

The terms of degree such as “substantially”, “about” and “approximately”as used herein mean a reasonable amount of deviation of the modifiedterm such that the end result is not significantly changed.

While only selected embodiments have been chosen to illustrate thepresent invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art fromthis disclosure that various changes and modifications can be madeherein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined inthe appended claims. For example, the size, shape, location ororientation of the various components can be changed as needed and/ordesired. Components that are shown directly connected or contacting eachother can have intermediate structures disposed between them. Thefunctions of one element can be performed by two, and vice versa. Thestructures and functions of one embodiment can be adopted in anotherembodiment. It is not necessary for all advantages to be present in aparticular embodiment at the same time. Every feature which is uniquefrom the prior art, alone or in combination with other features, alsoshould be considered a separate description of further inventions by theapplicant, including the structural and/or functional concepts embodiedby such features. Thus, the foregoing descriptions of the embodimentsaccording to the present invention are provided for illustration only,and not for the purpose of limiting the invention as defined by theappended claims and their equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A vehicle body structure comprising: a pillar; aroof structure located above the pillar; a body structure section havinga first side window edge and an upper window edge that together at leastpartially define a window opening, the side window edge being locatedadjacent the pillar and the upper window edge being located adjacent theroof structure; a curtain airbag mounted to the roof structure fordeployment from a stowed orientation to a deployed orientation, suchthat in the stowed orientation the curtain airbag extends along the roofstructure and in the deployed orientation the curtain airbag extendsdownward from the roof structure covering at least a portion of theupper window edge with a first side edge of the curtain airbag closestto the side window edge being spaced apart from the side window edge bya first distance; and a pillar airbag mounted to the pillar fordeployment from a stowed orientation to a deployed orientation such thatin the stowed orientation the pillar airbag extends along the pillar andin the deployed orientation the pillar airbag extends from the pillaracross the side window edge, with a distal end of the pillar airbagbeing positioned at a second distance from the side window edge, thesecond distance being greater than the first distance such that thefirst side edge of the curtain airbag is positioned inboard of thepillar airbag, and the curtain airbag overlaps a portion of the pillarairbag such that the distal end of the pillar airbag is positionedbetween the curtain airbag and the window opening.
 2. The vehicle bodystructure according to claim 1, wherein the body structure sectiondefines a door opening and includes a sliding door movable between aclosed position covering the door opening and an open position exposingthe door opening, the side window edge, the upper window edge and thewindow opening being defined on the sliding door.
 3. The vehicle bodystructure according to claim 1, wherein the body structure sectionfurther has a second side window edge opposite the first side windowedge and a lower window edge, the upper window edge extending betweenrespective upper ends of the first side window edge and the second sidewindow edge, the lower window edge extending between respective lowerends of the first side window edge and the second side window edge, thefirst side window edge, the second side window edge, the upper windowedge and the lower window edge defining the window opening, the windowopening being divided into a first portion and a second portion, thefirst portion extending from the first side window edge below a firstsection of the upper window edge and above a first section of the lowerwindow edge, and the second portion extending from the second sidewindow edge toward the first side window edge below a remainder of theupper window edge and above a remainder of the lower window edge, intheir respective deployed orientations the pillar airbag covers at leastthe first portion of the window opening and the curtain airbag coversthe second portion of the window opening and does not cover the firstportion of the window opening.
 4. The vehicle body structure accordingto claim 1, wherein the pillar airbag extends from the pillar in avehicle rearward direction while in the deployed orientation.
 5. Thevehicle body structure according to claim 1, wherein the pillar airbagextends from the pillar in a vehicle frontward direction while in thedeployed orientation.
 6. The vehicle body structure according to claim1, wherein the pillar airbag extends from the pillar in a vehiclelateral direction while in the deployed orientation.
 7. The vehicle bodystructure according to claim 1, further comprising a guide railextending along an area above the window opening, with an upper end ofthe pillar airbag being movably coupled to the guide rail.
 8. A vehiclebody structure comprising: a pillar; a roof structure located above thepillar; a body structure section having a first side window edge, asecond side window edge opposite the first side window edge, an upperwindow edge and a lower window edge, the upper window edge extendingbetween respective upper ends of the first side window edge and thesecond side window edge, the lower window edge extending betweenrespective lower ends of the first side window edge and the second sidewindow edge, the first side window edge, the second side window edge,the upper window edge and the lower window edge defining a windowopening, the first side window edge being located adjacent the pillarand the upper window edge being located adjacent the roof structure, thewindow opening further being divided into a first portion and a secondportion, the first portion extending from the first side window edgebelow a first section of the upper window edge and above a first sectionof the lower window edge, and the second portion extending from thesecond side window edge toward the first side window edge below a secondsection of the upper window edge and above a second section of the lowerwindow edge; a pillar airbag mounted to the pillar for deployment from astowed orientation to a deployed orientation such that in the stowedorientation the pillar airbag extends along the pillar and in thedeployed orientation the pillar airbag extends from the pillar acrossthe first side window edge covering at least the first portion of thewindow opening; and a curtain airbag mounted to the roof structure fordeployment from a stowed orientation to a deployed orientation such thatin the stowed orientation the curtain airbag extends along the roofstructure and in the deployed orientation the curtain airbag extendsdownward from the roof structure covering the second section of theupper window edge of the window opening and covering only the secondportion of the window opening and not covering the first portion of thewindow opening such that the entire window opening is covered by thecurtain airbag and the pillar airbag with the curtain airbag and thepillar airbag in their respective deployed orientations.
 9. The vehiclebody structure according to claim 8, wherein the pillar airbag extendsfrom the pillar in a vehicle rearward direction while in the deployedorientation.
 10. The vehicle body structure according to claim 8,wherein the pillar airbag extends from the pillar in a vehicle frontwarddirection while in the deployed orientation.
 11. The vehicle bodystructure according to claim 8, wherein the body structure sectiondefines a door opening and includes a sliding door movable between aclosed position covering the door opening and an open position exposingthe door opening, the first side window edge, the second side windowedge, the upper window edge, the lower window edge and the windowopening all being located on the sliding door.
 12. The vehicle bodystructure according to claim 8, wherein in their respective deployedorientations, a first side edge of the curtain airbag closest to thefirst side window edge is spaced apart from the first side window edgeby a first distance, and a distal end of the pillar airbag is positionedat a second distance from the first side window edge, the seconddistance being greater than the first distance such that the first sideedge of the curtain airbag is positioned inboard of the pillar airbag,and the curtain airbag overlaps a portion of the pillar airbag such thatthe distal end of the pillar airbag is positioned between the curtainairbag and the window opening.
 13. The vehicle body structure accordingto claim 8, further comprising a guide rail extending along an areaabove the window opening, with an upper end of the pillar airbag beingmovably coupled to the guide rail.
 14. The vehicle body structureaccording to claim 8, wherein the pillar airbag extends from the pillarin a vehicle lateral direction while in the deployed orientation.
 15. Avehicle body structure comprising: a pillar; a roof side structure thatextends in a vehicle longitudinal direction and includes a first roofside section, a second roof side section and a third roof side section,the first roof side section being located above the pillar, the secondroof side section extending from the first roof side section away fromthe pillar to the third roof side section and including an inboardprotruding structure, and the third roof side section extending from thesecond roof side structure away from the inboard protruding structure; avehicle side structure extending beneath second and third roof sidesections of the roof side structure and defining a window opening, thewindow opening having a first portion and a second portion, the firstportion being defined directly beneath the inboard protruding structureand the second portion being defined beneath the third roof side sectionof the roof side structure, the second portion of the window openingbeing located adjacent to the first portion; a pillar airbag mounted tothe pillar for deployment from a stowed orientation to a deployedorientation such that in the stowed orientation the pillar airbagextends along the pillar and in the deployed orientation the pillarairbag extends from the pillar under the inboard protruding structure ofthe roof side structure covering at least the first portion of thewindow opening; and a curtain airbag mounted to the third roof sidesection of the roof side structure for deployment from a stowedorientation to a deployed orientation such that in the stowedorientation a first side edge of the curtain airbag is located adjacentto one side of the inboard protruding structure and a remainder of thecurtain airbag extends along the third roof side section of the roofside structure in a direction away from the inboard protrudingstructure, and in the deployed orientation the curtain airbag extendsdownward from the roof side structure covering the second portion of thewindow opening with an upper portion of the first side edge adjacent tothe one side of the inboard protruding structure and a remainder of thefirst side edge of the curtain airbag extending down from upper portionsuch that the window opening is completely covered by the curtain airbagand the pillar airbag with the curtain airbag and the pillar airbag intheir respective deployed orientations.
 16. The vehicle body structureaccording to claim 15, wherein the vehicle side structure defines a dooropening and includes a sliding door movable between a closed positioncovering the door opening and an open position exposing the dooropening, the window opening being located on the sliding door.
 17. Thevehicle body structure according to claim 16, wherein the roof sidestructure further includes a slide rail that includes a curved portionand a track portion, the curved portion being located adjacent thepillar within inboard protruding structure and the track portionextending along the third roof side section in the vehicle longitudinaldirection, and the sliding door is configured to slide along the sliderail between the open position and the closed position.
 18. The vehiclebody structure according to claim 15, wherein the curtain airbag islocated rearward of the pillar airbag, and the pillar airbag extendsfrom the pillar in the vehicle rearward direction while in the deployedorientation.
 19. The vehicle body structure according to claim 15,wherein the curtain airbag is located frontward of the pillar airbag,and the pillar airbag extends from the pillar in the vehicle frontwarddirection while in the deployed orientation.
 20. The vehicle bodystructure according to claim 15, further comprising a guide railextending along an area above the window opening, with an upper end ofthe pillar airbag being movably coupled to the guide rail.
 21. Thevehicle body structure according to claim 15, wherein in theirrespective deployed orientations the pillar airbag covers at least thefirst portion of the window opening and the curtain airbag covers onlythe second portion of the window opening and not the first portion ofthe window opening.